What's Not: Adds some bulk to the looks and doesn't come with screen protector

Reviewed by Tong Zhang

For mobile phone users whose Samsung Galaxy S III can't make through a day or a trip with the built-in battery, PowerSkin offers a silicone case with built-in battery pack that can charge and sync the Android smartphone as well as protecting it. The PowerSkin comes with a 1500mAh rechargeable battery in a sturdy silicone case that's also very functional. The case not only lets you charge and sync the phone but also let the NFC transmission pass through as well. It comes in only black silicone.

Design

The PowerSkin for Samsung Galaxy S III comes in one piece silicone that fits the Android smartphone like a glove. The battery slab is hard and protects the phone from serious bumps and nicks. The back and bottom corners of the silicone case are also reinforced and should provide good shock damage protection as well. The top of the silicone is thinner and softer, making it very easy to install the case. The silicone material is a nice coating the makes the case feel smooth and soft. The battery connects with the Samsung Galaxy S III via a small connector hidden inside the case.

Features

The PowerSkin for Samsung Galaxy S III battery case is very functional thanks to the cutouts and protected buttons. The case has cutouts for the top audio jack, two mic holes and the rear camera/flash/speaker cluster. You should have no problem using 3.5mm headphones with the case, and the rear cutout is large enough to let the camera lens to have a few view and the flash to fully illuminate. Both Power button and the volume rocker are under the silicone skin. It actually makes it harder to accidentally press the buttons on the phone while it's in this case. So good for those who often press these button unintentionally.

The PowerSkin for Samsung Galaxy S III has a micro USB port on the side for charging both the case and the phone and sync the phone. The case comes with a USB to micro USB cable that you can use with your phone charger or charge via your computer. In addition to the battery power and the case protection, the PowerSkin also allows NFC chip to fully function while your phone is in the case.

Battery

The Powerskin's 1500mAh battery can extend your Galaxy S III's talk time for at least 2 and a half hours longer and over 90 standby hours. The battery case takes a few hours to fully charge via a computer and takes about 4 hours to fully charge the Galaxy S III from zero power to 100 percent. The battery case has full featured power protection as well as LED lights to indicate the power level. The case also offers an on/off button with which you can check the power level indicated by the 4 LEDs and turn on or off the battery to conserve power. The battery also has some built-in intelligence for power saving: when your phone is fully charged, the battery pack will turn itself off automatically.

Conclusion

The PowerSkin for Samsung Galaxy S III case provides convenience for those who need top up or extra juice on the road. It's bulkier than an extra battery for the phone but you can charge both the battery pack and the phone via one outlet or computer without swapping the batteries, and it can also protect the Galaxy S III from scratches and bruises. The battery case is easy to use and wraps around the sides to protect the screen when you put the phone face down, but it doesn't come with any film protect fro the front glass. For those who use their phone as their wallet, the PowerSkin offers NFC pass through. All in all, the PowerSkin is a very convenient power, protection and NFC all in one case that fits the Galaxy S III perfectly.